Corps to meet with groups angered by clear cut at Sepulveda Basin

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this week launched talks with environmental groups and others angry about a clear cut of wildlife habitat in the Sepulveda Basin.

Col. Mark Toy, corps commander of the Los Angeles District, began meeting with local groups and elected officials concerned about the recent loss of 43 acres of mostly native brush.

The federal agency has halted work to remove non-native plants from the Encino flood control basin until the air can be cleared.

"He feels strongly that private meetings, initially, are the best way to move forward in a collaboration on this five-year project," said Army Corps spokesman Jay Field, based in Los Angeles.

Before Christmas, birdwatchers discovered a thicket of coyote brush, mule fat and elderberry had been cut to the nubs inside a designated wildlife preserve.

The razed wood between Burbank Boulevard and the Los Angeles River had once been home to a plethora of wild birds.

Also destroyed were decomposed granite trails, markers and a seasonal wildlife pond.

The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society, in addition to such officials as state Sen. Fran Pavley who were not consulted about the basin landscaping, demanded an investigation.

They also want to see wildlife habitat restored.

"It's fair to say all the individual organizations are very upset," said Glenn Bailey, incoming chairman of the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Areas Steering Committee, a coalition set up to advise the city and Army Corps.

"So collectively, we got a cease-and-desist. Before any more efforts are undertaken, we'd like to see the entire environmental process restarted."

The Army Corps began its five-year vegetation management project as part of a 2011 Sepulveda Basin master plan.

The plan, published without notice last August, called for replacing the vegetation with mostly native oaks and native grasslands.

The Corps maintained it had to strip the region of native and invasive brush because both had become intertwined. It is also removing non-native trees.

The federal agency also said it would rid hiding places for lewd conduct, drug dealing and homeless camps prevalent in the flood control basin.

Among the 80 tons of trash removed were drug needles, condoms and porn, Field said.

An Army Corps assessment declared "no significant impact" to its vegetation plan, meaning no need for an environmental impact report. The assessment has been hotly disputed by environmental groups.

The next phase will be to mulch the area, then further remove non-native trees and plants. Corps' officials compared it to remodeling a house.

"Sometimes the early stages don't look so nice," Field said. "It takes time. (But in the end), we think it'll look fantastic."

IF YOU GO

What: The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society will host a free public tour of the Wildlife Area and U.S. Army Corps' vegetation management project in the Sepulveda Basin.